Electrically-operated signal for automobiles



M. R. BATER, N. P. SVENDSEW, D. T. TRUMP, AND R. M. MAHONEY.ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SIGNAL FOR AUTOMOBILE-S.

' APPllCATlOi. n ILED OCT. 7. 1918.

1,437,086. Patented ov- 28, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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APPHCAUON FILED OCT. 7. 1918.

Patented Nov. 28, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

dg i0 Mme/go PatentedNov. 28, 1922.] I

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DAvI 'r. TRUMP, AND RICHARD in; ALBERTA, CANADA.

ELEc'rRICALLY-orERA'rED SIGNAL ron AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed October 7, 1918. Serial No. 257,244.

To all whom it may concern: 7 x

Be it known that we, MONTAGUE R. BATER, Nr'nns PETER SvnNDsnN, DAVID T.TRUMP, and RIo ARD MAH NDY, subjects of the King of Great Britain,residing at Calgary",- in the Province of Alberta, Dominion of Canada,have invented certain new and uselul Improvements inElectrically-Operated Signals for Automobiles; and we do declare thefollowing to be a full,'clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the Same.

This invention .relates to signals, and it relates more particularlytoan improved electrically operated signalfor automobiles.

One ob ect of thisinvention is to' provide an improved signaling devicewhich is attachable to the rear end of'an automobile and operable toindicate the intention of the operator of turning to the right or left,or to stop the automobile, thereby giving warning to persons followingin the rear of the automobile, and thus greatly reducing thedanger'ofrea'r end collisions,

Another object is to'provide 'a' this Character which is attachable tothe front end of an automobile so as towarnpedestrians and others aheadof the automobile that it is about to turn" to the "right or left 7 IAhother object is-to' provide a device of A this character which iselectro-meohanic'ally controlled so that theoperators hands and feet'areleft -free to actuate the steering braking andother.controlledmechanisms or the automobile; *Anot her objectis'toprovide means wherethe signaling element; is automatically.freed from its signaling positions, and al-' lowed to return to'itsnormal" position, by. 'the operation of turningthe steering mecha-. nismwhile turning a curve; a

Another object is to :provide a deviceof this character in which theelectric .Circuit is automatically -neglects to break the sameafter-using it.

Other objects apparent to persons who read the following details ofdescription in connection with the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure 1 is adiag'ramm'atic view which illustrates the electricalconductors and their connections with the mechanical elements,

device of and the pre li'g t forthe sign ling portion of, the casing 5is -considerably.v

crank shaft 14:

member 15 which is providedwith flanges 16 broken in case the operator.7

and advantages may become which movethe signalingelement toits differentsignaling positions; I I

Fig; 2 is a view illustrating the switch board detached;

- Fig. 3 isfla sideelevationof the signaling device and its supportingand operating de'-. vices;

g; 4 is" a vertical sectional view along the line 4.-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a horizontalsectional view along a the line 5-- -5 of Fi Fig.6 is a detaiFview, partly in section, illustrating the means wherebshaft operates a make-and-brahe mechanism which controls the signalingelement; 'Fig. 7' is a detailview, and elevation, showing the preferredembodiment of the signal ingrdevicetobe used in connectien. with theother features of this invention; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged'detail sect of one of the armatures 40? and itsadjuncts. Referr ng to these drawings inidetail, in

which; similar reference characters corre spond with .similar partsthroughout the. several views,

the steering ional. view 7 we have illustrated a signalingif A devicewhich is more especially intended for application to the rear endof anautomobile,

for indicating whether going to sto 10 which isprovided with anelectric11, a battery12 and conductors-13 the automobile is or turn rightwardor-leftward, erred form of signaling element, r

which connect the lamp with "the battery. Y i

This feature',-however,

an other appropriate means of supplying heavier than its top portion,[especially in y be substitutedcby I element. Th bottom view ofthe addedweight of thebattery 12, f

and the casingis pivotally supported on a through the medium of a hubsecured to the rear orf'innerawall' oi the in opp the latter forpivotally; supporting the said signaling element, 50 that the signalingelement. Theshaft'14 is journaled osite walls ofthe frame 17 and coop'-.

. crates with latter normally stands in. theivertical posi-' tion shownin Figs. 3, 4 andyi -Thefront Y of the casing-ispreferably redgwith theexception of aclear glass orlens 18., A red lens.19 is. arranged insaid'fr 'the-c1ear glass and abovethe lamp 11, and

nt wall above wardly extending crank 21, a rightwardly it fnon-signaling j 22 preferab y '15 extending crank 22 and an upwardlyextending crank 23. That is, the cranks 21, 22and 23e-Xtendleftward,rightward and upward when the device is in its normal orposition. The cranks 21- and lie in the same-horizontal axial lane,while the crank 23 extends in a vertlcal axial plane or at right anglesto i j the axial plane of the other cranks.

At the bottom of the frame 17 is a pluf rality of bearings 24, andaplurality of cyl- 20 *inders 25, 26 and 27are'pivotally mounted at 28,or journaledin the bearlngs 24. Each ofthesecylinders is wound Wltll a0011 of conducting wire. so as to constitute a magnetic coil.Aplura'lity ofxmetal rods or armatures 29, and..31-,arejournaledrespectively on the cranks 21, 23 and 22, and

these armatures extend respectively into the c ylindersor'magnetic coils25,26 and'27,

and combine'therewith to form three solenoids." It will be seen;therefore, that when 'on'e of these solenoids 'isenergized, its armatimewill be drawn downward, and the con- 'ti guous crank will 'bedrawndownward thereby, so that the crank shaft will be rotate'drightwa'rd orleftward according to which one of the solenoids is l energized.;However, the crank 23 efi'ects substantially j a half revolution of theshaft 14, whereas the cranks 21 .and 22 eflect only a quarterrevolufully hereinafter. 1 [Referring now to Figs. 1and'8, it will beseen that the coils25 26 and 27 may be .tions or-conductors;-34,.35- and36. "These .ductori33 fhas a swit'clrmechanismf33i interf minedlength-of time.- .Thei '60 around 'an'expansible r e-71 ,posed therein,and also has interposed there.-

1n a thermostatic relay 33; This relay may of any; appropriate;construction and is intended to" automatically break-the" main circuitafter it has been closed a predeterrelayvhere illustrated. includes. a fheating? coil 7 O, wound o open a switch which-comprises a movablepectively, as will be explained more which operates the latter beingindicated at 37, and the current being supplied through a conductor 38which has a switch 39 interposed therein.

Referrin now to Fig. 2 in connection with Figs. 1 and 8, it will be seenthat four pushbuttons or keys 40, 41, 42 and 43 are employed to regulatethe circuit through the medium of special switch mechanisms which themin their respective normal or inoperative positions. [The feet orarmatures are provlded with an insulating element vwill be described inconnection with these (see F 8 which contactwlth the respective switchelements 45, 45, and 63. I i

The conductor 34 is connected with a conductor 43*? through the mediumof a switch mechanism 44 which includes a switch arm 45, which ispreferabl of spring material andhas one end fixe at 46; a fixed contact47 connected to the, conductor 34; and anwelectromagnet 48 einterposedin the conductor 43, It will be seen thatwhen the key'40 is depressedthe downwardly converging side of the foot 40 presses the switch arm 45laterally and causes its contact element to press against the contactelement, '47 and thereby close the circuit between the conductors 43 and34. It will be. seen that current now flows from the battery 32"andpasses through the relay 33, conductors 33 and 35 (including the switch66)., conductors 43 and electro-magnet 48, and this energizes theelectro-magnet' 48.

This magnet holds the foot or armature 40 down in its operativeposition-and the curfont now flows through the switch 44 and conductor34 (the latter including the coil of the solenoid 25'), then through theconductor' 33 to thebattery. It will also be seen that the current whichnow vpasses through thesolenoid 25 energizes this solenoid and causes itto ull the crank 21 down, or turn this crank tlirough a'quarter of arevolution. 4 This, obviously turns the-indieating device 10horizontally so that its pointer 20 is at the left side of theautomobile and points to the left,'while its red ,lens'19 is also'disposedat the left side of the automobile,thereby indicating, by dayor night, that the automobile is about to turn toward the left.Howeverf-ifthefauto- V g I mobile is aboutto' turn to the right, the .fcontact 7 2 and a stationary contact 73. The. I

battery may be the same as that-which, is employed for lightingthedashdamp,

operator presses the key 42 so as to operate a switch mechanism 49'whichis; interposed ductor '35. This switch mechanism is construct'ed likethe switch mechanism 44, but

its parts are desi nated by different reference characters, for he'sakeof, cle-arness, and comprises switch arms or contacts 45 and 47". Whenthe armature42 of the key 42 presses contact 47", this closes thecircuit between the conductors 33 and 36, through the medium' of theelectro-magnet 48 (which is interposed'in this latter-conductor),fandthe current, in passing through the conductor'36, energizes the solenoid27 and then passes through the conductor 33 to the battery 32.energized, holds the key 42 in -its operative position. Obviously, thesolenoid armature turns the crank 22 through a quar 31 now terrevolution, and this causes the s gnaling element 10 to point toward theright, there-v by shifting the red lens 19 to the right.

Now, it is desired to automatically release the signaling device duringthe turning operation, so that it stands at'normal after the turnhasbeenmade. Tnis automatic releasing of the signaling element is effectedby means medium of the steering post or shaft 50, arms 51 and 51 beingsecured on the steering post, preferably by means of a clamping band52.; These. arms contact "respectively with one or the other of twolevers 53 and 54' which are pivotally connected at 55 and actuate amake-and-brake mechanism which includes two switch arms 56, fixedcontacts 57, and two springs 58. The springs 58. normally hold thecontacts of the switch arms 56 against the contacts 57 land a pair ofsprings 59 constantly hold e levers 53 and 54 in contact with" the sHowever, these springs 9 are not sufficiently strong. to .overco e thesprings 58. From the foregoing -it-,will be obvious that when thesteering post is turned through a considerable. angle during the turningof an automobilelaround a curve, after the signaling element has beenmoved into. its horiz ontal position by pressing the key 40 (forinstance) the arm 51 will contact with the lever 53 and move thecorresponding switch the adjacent fixed contact; orelse, the arm 51 willcause the lever 54 to open the circuit by moving the contiguous arm 56away from-its corresponding fixed contact. Now, referring. again to Fig.1, it will be seen that this operation of the switch mechanism 33 opensthe main c1rcu-it, thereby deenergizing the magnet 48 and allowing thesprings 40 to return thedepressed key 7 40 to its normal. position,

. thereb allowing the switch 44, which has been c osed by this-key, tobeopened by meansof its spring arm 45.. Moreover, by thus breaking thecircuit, the solenoid which the switch arm 45 against the fixed.

The electro-magnet 48, now being therein a switch 60 and a magnet 61.The

ofthe steering-wheel through the.

itch arms 56.

. downwardly pointed position. This is accomplishedby the armature 30through the medium. of the coil 26 and its connections with the storagebattery 32. The conductor 35. which connects with this solenoid hasswitch 60and magnet 61 are identical in construction with the switchmechanisms illustrated in connection' with the keys 40 and 42, and thearmature 43 of the key 43 closes the switch 60 by pressingits switch arm45 against the adj acent contact element 47, and the electro-magnet 61holds the adjacent armature 43 in its operative position.

It will be seen, however, that the crank 23 normally stands on deadcenter with relation to the armature 30, and it is necessary, therefore,that the shaft 14 be movedfrom dead center position so that the armature30 may pull the crank 23 down to'its lowest position. Forthis purpose,we have chosen to employ the crank 21 and the solenoid which operatesit. In this connectiom'it will be seen that a switch mechanism of pecul--iar and improved construction connects the conductor 34 with theconductor 35 through the medium'of a conductor 62. This switch mechanismconsists of a switch arm 63, preferably of spring material, and carryingtwo contact elements which make and break the circuit in connection withsimilar contact elements carried by spring arms 64 and 65. The contactelement of the switch arm 63 is normally in-closedcircuit with thecontact of the arm 64, but is moved into open circuitwith the arm 64 andinto closed circuit with the arm 65Qby means of the armature 43 of thekey 43. It will be seen, therefore, that this armature 43 simultaneouslyoperates the contiguous switch arms 45 and '63. However, the contactelements of this pair of switches or c'ompound switch mechanism arasorelated to one another that the adjacent armature or foot 43 firstcloses the circuit through the solenoid coil 25 by means of the switcharms 63 and 65, then closes the circuit between the contact elements ofthe switch arms 45 and47 of this compound switch mechanism, and thereafter opens-the circuit between the switch ,arms 63 and 64. Obviously,these steps in until it has closed the circuit with the arm 65, and thenthe arm 65 yields sufiioiently toallowthe arm 63-to move out of contactwith thearm 64. Moreover, because of the downwardly converging foot 43,the operatormay press the key 43 only far enough to close the circuitbetween the arms .63 and 65 without opening the circuit betweenthe arms63 and-64. When the key 43 is thus partially depressed, the circuit isclosed thr'oughthe solenoid coil 25, conductors 3 4 and 62, a, portionof the conductor'35, and

l the main conductor 33; whereupon the solenoidj armature29 moves thecrank shaft 14 from its dead centerl'position. Now, upon completing thedepression of the key 43, the

circuit i-s 'broken between the switch arms 63 and '64 and the solenoidcoil is deenergized, but the solenoid coil 26 has just previouslybeenenergized by the closing of the circuit 60, so that the armature-30 nowtakes controlof the crank shaft andpompletes its movement through onlyhalf of a revolution,

I .When the automobile thereby .inverting the indicating element fromitsnormal position. i I

has'been stopped with the indicating element in the inverted orstop-indicating position, it is desired to return it to its normalposition upon or be fore starting the automobile; but so long as thecurrent flows through the coil 26, the ar- 4 mature30will hold theindicating device in this position, and it; is necessary to release thekey 43 from the control of the magnet 61 Of course, this could be doneby pulling "the key 4 3 outward, but its release is more quickly andeasily accomplished by breaking the circuit and allowing its spring 43to press it'outward. For this purpose, and

nickl and easily refor the purpose. of

.leasingany key whic mig t have been depressed in error, weprovide thekey 41 which is similar in all respects to the keys 40 and 42. However,there is no magnet or other means for holding thiskey depressed, and

, its sprin 41 immediately presses it outward when it as been releasedby the operator. A normally closed switch66 is interposed between theconductors 33iand 35, and is constructed like the switches 44, 49 and60, the only difference being that this switch is normallyclo'sed as isthe switch63---64.

normally open switch 67 is connectedto theconductors 34 fand43 by meansof conductors68-and 69, andwhen the key 41 is depressed, its. armature41 first closes the switch 67, and then immediately opens the switchThis iS; IIf1ade possible by the spring arm 47? of the switch66'following the switch arm 45 of this switch .until' the switch arm 45of the switch 67 closes circuit with the arm 47 of the switch 67. Itwill be seen, therefore, that whenthe circuit is I I thus closed by'the. switch 67, when the indicating element is pointing downward, the

' switc :shaft in either .direction.

1,4a7,ose

.current passes from the battery 32 through the conductors 33, 35, (thelatter includ-. mg the switch 66), conductor 68, switch 67,

'conductors69, 34 and- 33, to the battery 32; I and this energizes thesolenoid coil 25 and causes itto turn the shaft 14 so as to bring thearmature 29, until the key 41 is released,

if it were not for the fact that the depressed key has nowopened theswitch 66, and has thereby opened the circuit, so that the weighted endof the indicating device moves the; latter b its normal upwardlypointing position. s'prin action of the arms 45 and 47 of the closedposition, and the device is now aga n in position to be operated forindicating,

that the automobile is to be turned or stopped.

Although we have described this embodinalled respectively to saidcranks, one. of

said'connecting rods extending in the radial direction of its correlatedcrank when said signalling element. in its normal position, and means toselectively actuate said con: nectingrods in a manner to cause either ahalf revolution or only a quarter revolution of the'crank shaft.

2. In a signal, a crank shaft comprising three cranks set substantiallyat right angles "to one another, a signalling element carried by saidcrank shaft, connecting rods journalled respectively on said cranks, oneof said connecting rods extending in the radial direction of itscorrelated orankwhen' said signalling element in. its normal. position,

and means to selectively actuate the connecting. rods in a manner tocause either a half revolutionof thecrank shaft or cause only a "quarterrevolution of the crank pon releasing the key 41, the

66 return them to their normally.

the crank 23 oifof its lower dead center position, whereupon, theindicating device would be held in its horizontal position by 3. In asignal, a signalling element, a

crank shaft carrying. said signalling element and comprising cranks setdiametri-.

cally opposite to one another, connectin rods directlyconnectedrespectively to sai cranks, tubular *members each pivotally mounted onthesame axis and receiving one end of a correspondingone of said,connecting' r ds, and means f r causing sald ta u- .larmembers to movesaid connecting rods longitudinally therein, said means being operableto selectively actuate either of said connecting rods and thereby turnsaid crank shaft and signalling element through one quarter of arevolution in either direction.

4. In combination, a crank shaft adapted for connection with an objectto be adjusted to different positions, said crank shaft comprisin cranksextending in different directions i rom its axis;solenoids havingwtheirarmatures journaled to said cranks respectively; electrical conductorscorrelated re-" spectively with the solenoids and adapted to energizethe' latter; and, a switch mechanism comprising a key and two switches,

said switches being connected respectively to said conductors, said keybeing operable to first close one of said switches and then close the.other of the switches and concomitantly hold them in their respectiveclosed positions. c

5. In combination, a crankshaft adapted for connection' with an objectto be adjusted to different positions, said: crank shaft comprisingcranks extending in different directions from its axis; solenoids havingtheir armatures journaled to said cranks respectively; electricalconductors correlated respectively with the solenoids and adapted toenergize the latter; and a switch mechanism comprising a key and adouble-throw switch and a single-throw switch, said double-throw switchbeing connected to one of said conductors, and the single-throw switchbeing connected to the other of said ;erable to close said one ofthe-switches of said pair and ther'eby energize said magnet and thenopen the other switch of said pair, said armature being cooperative withsaid magnet to hold the pair of switches respectively closed and open;means to return said key to its inoperative position when it is releasedby said magnet; electric motors connected in parallel through therespective switches and main conductor; a shunt about said pair ofswitches and including a normally open switch, said shunt being incircuit with only one of said electric motors;

and a key operable to close said normally open switch and thereafteropen said normally closed switch and thus energize said one of theelectric iiiotors and de-energize said magnet and thus allow the firstsaid key to return to its inoperative position.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

MONTAGUE R. BATER. NIELS P. SVENDSEN. DAVID T. TRUMP. RICHARD M. MAHONEY

